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‘My Little Pony: The Movie’: Ideal Rainbow for Little Girls
by Sandra Olmsted
My Little Pony: The Movie opens with Twilight Sparkle (voice of Tara Strong), the youngest the four pony princesses, planning Equestria’s Friendship Festival and the concert by Pop star Songbird Serenade (voice of Sia).
Of course, Twilight Sparkle has the help of her best friends, the rest of the Mane 6. Honest country girl Applejack, always-rushing Rainbow Dash (both voice of Ashleigh Ball), ever-cheerful Pinkie Pie, kind Fluttershy (both voice of Andrea Libman), and generous Rarity (voice of Tabitha St. Germain) happily help even though they might scrabble over how to get the work done.
Although Twilight wants everything perfect, the three older, wiser princesses just tell her she has enough power to make the day perfect.
Suddenly, horrible black clouds appear in the sky, and in rides Tempest (voice of Emily Blunt), wearing armor pony and sporting a broken horn. Soon, the peace of Equestria immediately spirals away due to Tempest’s dark magic. Sent by the menacing Storm King (voice of Live Schreiber, who delightfully in the role of a villain) to capture the four pony princesses so he can harness their powers, Tempest quickly encases three of the four princesses in stone.
Twilight, her friends, and the tiny dragon Spike (voice of Cathy Weseluck) manage to escape. With only the advice to “find the Hippos,” these adventurers set off to save the other princesses and Equestria. While on the quest, they encounter Capper (voice of Taye Diggs), a cat who attempts to sell them, pirates with hearts of gold, and mermaid hippogriffs, who might share the magic capable of saving Equestria.
For the intended primary audience, i.e. little girls, My Little Pony: The Movie offers plenty of rainbows, unicorns, magic, vivid colors, and true friendships, yet the film also has moments which inspire tears. Surprisingly, the tears start not when the ponies are in danger but rather when, in a dark moment, the ponies disband. The girls’ reaction shows how important the Little Ponies’ friendship is to the little fans. For other young audience members, there is action and adventure, and for adult fans there is nostalgia.
My Little Pony: The Movie also features Girl-Power songs about the value of friendship and the virtues of being ones best self. As with all the versions of the My Little Pony franchise, and like all children’s films, there are important lessons to learn. Rated PG for mild action and running 99 minutes, My Little Pony: The Movie, a Lionsgate release, is in theaters now.
